Sacramento businesses, concert and special event organizers may soon be facing major changes in their efforts to put on events.

After working for two years to review the existing city ordinance, a City Council-appointed committee determined that several changes are needed:

Anyone organizing a special event will now have to turn in an application 60 days in advance, versus 10 days in advance.
They have to notify nearby businesses and residents 30 days in advance
appropriate noticing for amplified sound is necessary
new rules and regulations regarding alcohol management
The city would have to provide more specific reasons why the city could deny an application for a certain event

The measure was announced at the City Council meeting Tuesday, and members will vote on it and take public comment on Oct. 9.

“The last update was in 1995, so there was a clear need to make a change to the code for the city of Sacramento,” said Teresa Jackson, general recreation supervisor.

The new rules could cause some friction with event promoters who wait until the last minute, however.

“If you want to promote your event, you can’t start doing that until you have everything in place, so it won’t make a huge difference,” said local music promoter Jerry Perry of Jerry Perry Presents. “For people who are scrambling, that would definitely be tough. I can understand kind of why they are doing it. It’s because they get swamped with a lot of permits and everything at the last minute.”

Jackson said the new regulations will streamline the process – a necessary part of the city’s growth.

In addition to the changes listed above, the park code is being updated. This will allow commercial activities to be held in parks. At the moment, activities in the parks are limited to nonprofit organizations.

At the City Council meeting, Sacramento resident Mac Worthy expressed concern over this part of the change and if there would be more changes made to the laws regarding the use of city parks.

“We’re allowing for this to change because we know there’s a need for the space and also the enjoyment of our park users, and to generate additional revenue for park maintenance,” Jackson said.

The full report can be found here. 

What do you think? Is this good or bad for special event planners and what will the impact be?